Folding car-step.



' H. MILLER.

FOLDING GAR STEP.

APPLIOATIOF'I'ILED AUG. 1, 1908.

901, 32 K Patented Oct. 20,1908.

HENRIETTE MILLER, OF MEAD, COLORADO.

FOLDING GAR-STEP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 20, 1908.

Application filed August 1, 1908. Serial No. 446,454.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRIETTE MILLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Mead, in the county of lVeld and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Car-Steps; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in folding step for railway cars and the object in view is to produce a means whereby an auxiliary step may be provided which may be let down and used in place of the usual stool which is placed adjacent to the car step for convenience in entering or leaving a car.

The invention comprises various details of construction, combinations and arrangements of parts which will be hereinafter fully described and then specifically defined in the appended claims.

I illustrate my invention in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation showing my improved folding step held in a raised position. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing it swung down to its lowest position, and Fig. 3 is a detail view showing the manner of holding the step folded.

Reference now being had to the details of the drawings by letter, A designates the side rail of the ordinary steps of a car, and B designates a pivotal step having sides C mounted upon a pivot C. Upon the forward edge of the side G is a notch D adapted to be engaged by means hereinafter described for the purpose of holding steps securely when lowered to an operative position. Mounted upon a pivot E is a lever E, the lower portion of the lever being substantially U-shaped and pivoted at its lowest portion. One end of said lever forms a handle F and a notch F is formed in said lever and is adapted to engage the notch D formed in the side of the folding step when the latter is lowered to the position shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, thus reinforcing and securely holding the step for use. A link, designated by letter H, is pivotally connected by means of a pin I with one end of the lever E and its other end is pivotally connected to the step O in the manner shown.

It will be understood that each end of the step has similarly arranged and connected levers E and links H connecting the same with the step, whereby each end of the folding step is securely reinforced and held when lowered for use.

Mounted upon the platform of the car is a bracket arm N having a pin N projecting therefrom and between which the lever E is adapted to engage to hold the step in a folded position, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings.

In operation, the parts being assembled as shown in the drawings, when it is desired to lower the step, the operator by taking hold of the lever of the handle F, which is made preferably of a resilient material, may by moving the handle toward the platform disengage the lever from the pin N, thus allowing the step C to fall by gravity to the position shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. As the step lowers, the levers E will turn upon their pivots to the position shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings so that the notches D will engage the notches F, thereby reinforcing and holding the step securely and enabling the same to withstand any ordinary weight coming upon the step.

When it is desired to fold the step, the op erator by taking hold of the handle when in the position shown in Fig. 2 may cause the same to swing up and engage the pin N, thus holding the step securely folded.

What I claim to be new is 1. A folding step for railway cars comprising, in combination with the side rail of the fixed steps of the car, a pivotal step mounted thereon, a pivotal lever, a link pivotally connecting said lever and folding step, and notches upon said lever and step adapted to engage each other when the step is in its lowest position, as set forth.

2. A folding step for railway cars comprising, in combination with the side rail of the fixed steps of the car, a pivotal step mounted thereon, a pivotal lever, a link pivotally connecting said lever and folding step, notches upon sa1d lever and step adapted to engage each other when the step is in its lowest position, a bracket member upon the platform of the car and having a projection thereon adapted to be engaged by said lever to hold the step folded, as set forth.

3. In combination with the side piece of the usual steps of a car, a folding step having sides pivotally connected to the sides of the fixed step and provided with notches upon the edges thereof, curved levers pivotally mounted upon the sides of the fixed step, links pivotally connecting the upwardly curved ends of said lever and said folding step, said levers each having a notch adapted, when the levers are thrown to their low- 10 est positions, to engage the notches of said pivotal step, as set forth.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses. HENRIETTE MILLER. Vitnesses:

J. L. BALLINGER, M. L. BALLINGER. 

